Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan's new job in Los Angeles' Skid Row area will involve helping down-and-out women get back on their feet, which should be "a life changing experience" for the actress, the head of the Downtown Women's Center said.

Working with the center's theater group is "one of the many possible projects," but Lohan could also serve meals, sort donations or help case managers find homes and health care for women, a spokesman said.

"We are working on outlining a schedule and meeting community service requirements at this point," center spokesman Patrick Shandrick said Thursday.

Lohan must complete 360 hours -- which adds up to nine weeks of full-time work -- at the center over the next year as part of her sentence for violating probation from her 2007 drunk driving convictions. She must also serve 120 hours at the county morgue.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner sentenced Lohan to the community service and 120 days in jail after deciding last week that she violated her probation when she was charged with stealing a necklace from a jewelry store in January.

The jail time has been temporarily delayed while Lohan's lawyer appeals, but the community service must start immediately, Judge Sautner said.

Working at the women's center might teach Lohan to behave better after seeing "how truly needy women and women who have fallen on real hard times have to live," Sautner said.

Center CEO Lisa Watson agreed in a statement sent to CNN Thursday.

"DWC is a life changing experience for all that walk through our doors," Watson said. "We are a community that fosters dignity and respect. DWC hopes that Miss Lohan is inspired by her experience here."

Homelessness is a major challenge in Los Angeles, where an estimated 50,000 people live on the streets, a statement from the center said.

The center serves about 200 women each day with help getting basic needs, including meals, medical and mental health care, learning and literacy workshops and workforce development, it said.

"Through her community service work, Miss Lohan will provide support and service for the ladies at DWC, in the same manner a volunteer would," the statement said. "That could include: preparing and serving a meal, donation sorting or assisting case managers who are helping women connect to housing or healthcare services."

Lohan could also be assigned to work in the "MADE by DWC" program, which is "an innovative social enterprise cafe and gift boutique offering handmade products," it said.

Lohan's acting career has been derailed by drunk-driving convictions, probation violations and a shoplifting charge over the past four years.

She admitted to "poor decisions in the past" during an interview with Jay Leno on th "Tonight Show" this week.

"I've made a lot of mistakes and I've recognized that, but I'm in the clear now and I feel like as long as I stay focused then I will be able to, you know, achieve what I want to be able to achieve," Lohan told the NBC show's host.

When Leno asked what one thing she would like to change about herself, Lohan said it would be the public perception of her.

"I want the public knowledge to be about my work, not about things that I didn't get into this business for, that I've put myself into positions where that was the bigger story than what I was working on," she said.

She is also scheduled to go on trial in June for allegedly stealing a gold and diamond necklace from a Venice, California, jewelry store. If convicted, Lohan could face up to a year in jail.

The actress has admitted a drug addiction in the past and she's spent at least eight months in substance abuse rehab in the last four years.